THE SNAKES OF BAXGIWK. 



Familj^ Boidae. 



4. Pijthon retkulatus. The Eeticnlated Python. 



Siamese. ^ Vi'DlW or ^ IVIC^QW ( ^ig" l^'^-ni or ngii leiiani ), the 

 former name common!}^ used in Bangkok, the latter outside, but con- 

 siderable difFei'ence of opinion prevails, and the Siamese will always 

 affirm that they are different species. I have seen many specimens 

 but have so far been unable to confirm this. 



It is not uncommon in Bangkok, frequenting chiefly the 

 gardens in the neighbourhood of habitations, the outhouses of which it 

 often enters in search of food. The ease with which it can procure a 

 meal near human dwellings no doubt atti-acts it tliere, but it is cevtain- 

 1}^ remarkable that a snake which attains such lai-ge dimensions, which 

 has such conspicuous markings and which on account of its ?lugorish 

 disposition is so easily killed, should be able to survive in the verv midst 

 of a thickly populated town. Tiieir nocturnal habits and the fact that 

 they are very prolific no doubt account for this. 



Daring the day they usuall}- seek some elevated position, often 

 lying in the most exposed situation and making little effort to conceal 

 themselves. They are good climbers and can ascend the trunks of 

 trees with great ease, even when there is no assistance to be obtained 

 from branches. This they do by throwing the middle of the. body into 

 two or more loops which partly encircle the stem, and by holding on in 

 this way they are then free to push up the fore part of the body, and 

 take a similar purchase at a higher level. The}' are seldom found far 

 from water and take to iu readily to avoid capture. 



Food. Small mammals and birds which they kill by con- 

 striction. Young pythons appear to consume chiefl}' I'ats, ])robably 

 because they are more plentiful than other .'orms of food. Whether or 

 no larger ones eat cats for the same reason I cannot eay, but the num- 

 ber of times I have known them taken is quite out of proportion to 

 other creatures such as fowls, ducks or dogs. In captivity liiy own 

 feed largely upon rats and the way in which a coil of the body is 

 thrown over the head of the animal so as to press the muzzle 

 tightly into the chest, is very clever. Tins serves a double 

 purpose. It aids suffocation and at the same time prevents the rat; 

 from biting its captor^ but whether both are intentional I am unable 



